Resonating means for banjos



Dec. 2, 1930. w. .LANGE RESONATING MEANS FOR BANJOS Filed July 11, 19232 Sheets-Sheet 1 77 /}P- 7 06 F I 65 G .1mm

"Jill! INVENTOR %Z[mmZ.Zan' e Dec. 2, 1930. w. L. LANGE 1,733,244

RESONATING MEANS FOR BANJOS Filed July 11, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2IIIIIIIIIIK-I. I?

@W A TOFQNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1930 ENI'EED STATES WILLIAM L. LANGE, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

RESONATING MEANS FOR BANJOS Application filed July 11,

This invention relates to stringed musical instruments and moreparticularly to resonating means for banjos, though it is noted that theinvention is not limited to banjos nor in some respects to resonatingmeans.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved stringed musicalinstrument having very eficient resonating means for increasing the toneand distributing the tone more evenly throughout the difierentregisters.

Other objects or" the invention are to provide an improved resonatingtone ring, an improved cast metal tone ring, and an improved strainring.

()ther objects of the invention are to provide an improved resonatorattaching means and an improved neck adjusting means.

Other objects or" the invention are to improve generally the tone andsimplicity of such instruments and to provide an instrument of this kindwhich is durable and reliable in operation, and economical tomanufacture and assemble.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described andclaimed, the invention is not limited to these, since many and variouschanges may be made without departing from the scope of the invention asclaimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomj'ilishment of these and otherobjects are shown herein in connection with an improved sound instrumentwhich, briefly stated, includes an annular wooden frame around which aredisposed a resonator ring provided with an airnular wall, and aforaminous spacing ring secured around said frame and engaging the upperpart of said wall to provide upper sound outlets.

A lower spacing ring around said frame is placed under and in contactwith the lower flange of said resonator ring and is provided with soundopenings; said spacing ring has detachably secured thereto the side wallof a wooden resonator, which is spaced clownwardly and with its sidewall outwardly from said frame and has a closed bottom.

1929. Serial No. 377,375.

A cast metal one-piece tone ring member comprises inner and outer spacedtone rings spaced over the frame and forming a clownwardly openingresonating chamber, the inner ring being provided with small soundopenings communicating with the interiorspace of the instrument.

The diaphragm engages over both said tone rings.

A suitable three point adjustable support holds the neck on the frame.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of manypossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmental plan showing a banjo embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental approximately longitudinal vertical sectionalview, partly in elevation, showing the resonating chambers incross-section, the section being taken sub stantially on the line 22 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows of said line;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental vertical sectional view, drawn to a larger scale,the section being taken substantially on the same line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental side elevation, partly in section, showing thelatch;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental vertical sectional view, showing the principalparts disassembled, the section being taken substantially on the line 22of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan showing the tone ring member;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the tone ring member; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmental plan of the upper spacing ring.

Ihe various parts of my improved stringed musical instrument are carriedon a wooden annular frame or rim 10 (Figs. 2 and 8) having its outerface cylindrical at the middle part 11 and rabbeted at the edges to formup per and lower shoulders 12 and 13.

A metallic resonator ring 15 around said frame against the lowershoulder 13 is provided with small strain hook openings 16 (Fig; 5) andan outer cylindrical wall 17 spaced from the frame and projecting beyondthe front or upper plane 18 of the ring.

'An upper spacing ring has a downturned flange 21 secured by screws 22around said frame in engagement with said upper shoulder 12, the ringbeing provided with a series of large sound outlets 2a and strain hookopenings 25 (Fig. 1) therebetween axially alined with the strain hookopenings of the resonator ring.

The frame 10 and rings 15 and 20co-operate to form a resonating chamber.

A flat filler or lower spacing ring 28 is disposed around said frameagainst the lower face of the resonator ring and provided with largesemi-circular sound openings 29 near its outer edge, and small strainhook openings 30 (Fig. 8) near its inner edge concentric with the strainhook openings 25 of the resonator ring.

A wooden resonator spaced from the frame 10 and having a closed convenedbottom 36 spaced from the bottom of the frame has a side wall 37inwardly rabbeted as at 38 at the upper edge to removably receive theouter edge of the spacing ring 28 and to provide a ledge engaging underthe spacing ring. Said frame 10 and resonator 35 co-operate to provide asound passage from the interior of the frame under the frame and upthrough said semi-circular sound openings 29.

Pairs of spaced screws 39 (Fig. 4) secured inv approximatelydiametrically opposite parts of the inner face of the resonator sidewall 37, with their heads slightly spaced from the side wall, carrylatch plates 40, each having a horizontal slot 41 slidably received 'onthe screws of said pairs respectively.

Each plate is provided with an upwardly projecting end 42 adapted toproject through one of the sound openings 29 and provided with anenlarged upper end or head 43 provided with a lower latching shoulder 44adapted to engage the top face of the lower spacing plate 28 to hold theresonator in place.

Sliding movement of the latch plate causes disengagement of saidshoulder from the plate, permittingremoval of the resonator.

A cast aluminum tone ring member (Figs. 2 and 7) disposed over the frame10 is formed with diaphragm-engaging inner and outer tone rings 51, 52(Figs. 3 and forming an annular resonating chamber and sound passage 53therebetween. These rings are oined at wide intervals at the lower edgeb downwardl )roiectin s acin lu s 55 1, .1 D O c;

(Fig. 7) secured by screws 56 (Fig. 2) against the upper face 18 of thframe 10, thus holding the body spaced from the frame to form a soundpassage, designated by the arrow 57, between the frame and tone ringmember. The inner ring 51 is the taller and is provided with a pluralityof small sound openings 58 therearound to provide additional soundpassages through said small openings, chamber 53 and under the outer Itone ring.

A diaphragm 6O engaging over said tone rings is provided with a fleshring 61 (Fig. 3) disposed against the outer face of the outer tone ringand receiving a strain rim 62 resting thereon. The strain rim isprovided with upper and lower outwardly projecting flanges 63, 64:, thelatter having an upturned flange 65v over which engage strain hooks 66passing through said hook openings 16, 25 and 30 of the resonator andspacing rings and having threaded lower ends 67, receiving nuts 68engaging the lower face of the spacing ring 28 to pull the diaphragmagainst the tone ring and to hold the tone ring member and rings 15 and28 against the frame.

T'he ring 28 and resonator side wall 3'? are provided with recesses 70(Fig. 8) and 71 (Fig. in which is seated the inner end 7 2 of the neck73. Said end has its inner face curved horizontally to conform to theouter outlines of said annular wall 17 and the strain ring 62. The neckis held in place by a bolt 7 5 and set screws 7 6 (Fig. 1). The'bolt 7 5is anchored in the lower part of said end 72 and has a threaded end -77passing. through the frame and receiving a nut 7 8 for 'adjustablyholding the lower part of the neck end.

vEars (Fig. 1) on the neck, near an arcuate plate 81 interposedbetween'the neckand strain ring, carry the set screws 76 ad uStablyengaging said plate and forming with said bolt an adJustable support forthe neck, the

bolt drawing the neck against the lower part of the wall 17, and holdingthe set screws against the plate.

The strings 78, bridge 79 and tail piece 80 may be of any preferred orusual arrangement.

In use the sound from the interior of the instrument passes out throughthe passages indicated by the arrows 57 and 82 (Fig. 2), as well asthrough the openings 58 (Fig. and chamber 53, the resonator 35 andchamber 53 resonating the sound and increasing the volume. In additionvibrations from the diaphragm and tone rings 51 and 52 increases thesound in, and passing from, the chamber 53; while the vibrationsreceived from the wooden frame 10 are resonated and strengthened in thechamber defined by the frame and rings. 15 and 20, from which the soundpasses out at the arrow 83 to be combined with that at the arrows 57 and82.

The chambers enclosed by the parts 35, 17

and 50 are thus enclosed by. respectively,

mostly wood, partly wood and metal, and mostly meta-l giving a widevariety to the tones and overtones. These chambers are also T he latchplate lO (Fig. 4) is efficient for positively holding the resonator 35in place, and is very easily operated for release, merely by pushingback the head 43.

Ihe neck may o easily adjusted by manipulating the set screws 76 and nut78.

The flanges 63, 6e and 3) of the strain rim serve to strengthen the rimand at the same time dispose the strain hooks out of the way and makethem inconspicuous, improving the appearance of the instrument.

The parts 10, 35 and 73 are preferably made of wood, the part 50 of castaluminum and the other principal parts of suitable metal, but it isunderstood, that the claims are not limited to these materials or othermaterials, except when distinctly stated.

lVhile in some of the claims herein are mentioned the top, bottom andupper and lower parts of the instrument, it is understood that these arefor designation and that the claims are to be construed broadly enonghtocover other positions and relative dimensions, and in general the claimsshould be given a broad construction when possible,

I claim as my invention:

1. In astringed musical instrument a frame, parts encompassing saidframe, being spaced therefrom, and enclosing therebetween and said framethree resonator chambers, forming and including annular spaces, disposedsubstantially one above the other around said frame and each providedwith one or more sound outlets.

2. In a stringed musical instrument; a frame; parts encompassing saidframe and enclosing therebetween and said frame, a

resonator chamber around said frame provided with upper sound outlets; aresonator spaced below the frame and chamber and projecting beyond saidchamber and provided with upper sound openings; spaced tone rings spacedover the frame and forming an upper downwardly opening resonator chamberprovided with inner sound openings; and a diaphragm engaging over saidtone rings.

3. In a stringed musical instrument a wooden frame, a metal resonatorring disposed in a plane parallel to said frame around a shoulder at thelower part of said frame, said ring being provided with an upwardlyextending annular wall spaced away from and disposed in a plane parallelto said frame, and a means for connecting said ring with said wallthereon to said frame.

at. The elements of claim 8, combined with a spacing ring, havingtherein sound outlets and having thereon a cylindrically disposed flangesecured to the upper end of said frame, said spacing ring encompassingsaid frame in a plane parallel thereto and being engaged with said wallthereby forming an annular resonator chamber around said frame.

5. In a stringed musical instrument a frame, parts encompassing saidframe and enclosing therebetween and said frame an annular resonatorchamber encompassing said frame, said chamber being provided at the topthereof with sound outlets, and a circular wooden resonator including aclosed bottom and a side wall integral therewith, a spacing ring on saidresonator, forming with said resonator another chamber disposed undersaid annular chamber, the periphery of the lower chamber extending in aplane parallel to said frame beyond the projections of said frame andsaid first mentioned chamber, and said last mentioned chamber beingprovided at the said periphery thereof with upper sound openings.

6. In a stringed musical instrument, a Wooden annular frame or rimhaving its outer face cylindrical at the middle part andrabbeted at theedges to form upper and lower shoulders; a metallic resonator ringaround said frame against the lower shoulder and provided with smallstrain hook openings and an outer cylindrical wall spaced from the frameand projecting beyond the front or upper plane of the ring and formingtherewith a resonating chamber; a spacing ring having a downturnedflange secured around said frame in engagement with said upper shoulder,the ring being provided with a series of large sound outlets and smallstrain hook openings therebetween alined with the strain hook openingsof the resonator; a diaphragm disposed over said frame and provided witha flesh ring; a strain ring on the flesh ring; strain hooks engaged overthe strain ring and passing through small openings; and nuts on thelower ends of said hooks engaging the underside of the resonator ring.

7. In a stringed musical instrument, a frame; a resonator ring aroundthe lower part of said frame provided with an outer cylindrical wallspaced from the frame; a spacing ring secured around the upper part ofsaid frame and engaging said wall and provided with sound outlets; aflat filler or lower spacing ring around said frame against the lowerface of the resonator ring and provided with large semi-circular soundopenings near its outer edge; a wooden resonator spaced from the frameand having a closed convened bottom spaced from the bot tom of the frameand a side wall inwardly rabbeted at the upper edge to removably receivethe outer edge of the lower spacing ring and to provide a ledge engagingunder the spacing ring, said frame and resonator cooperating to providea sound passage from the interior of the frame under the frame and upthrough said semi-circular sound openings; and a diaphragm over theframe.

8. In a stringed musical instrument, a frame; a resonator ring aroundthe lower part of said frame provided with an outer cylindrical wallspaced from the frame; a spacing ring secured around theupper part ofsaid frame and engaging said wall and provided with sound outlets; alower spacing ring around said frame against the lower face of theresonator ring and provided with sound openings; and a resonator havinga closed bottom spaced from the frame and a side wall on said resonatorremovably secured to the lower spacing ring.

9. In a stringed musical instrument a frame, a spacing ring encompassingsaid frame at the lower end of the latter and having therein soundopenings, a resonator having a closed'bottom, spaced from said frame andcontacting with said ring at the outer periphery of the latter, therebyforming a chamber therewith, and latches, slidably adjustably connectedto said resonator and provided with hooked ends, projecting through saidsound openings and slidably removably engaging the top face of saidspacing ring, whereby said resonator may be readily connected to anddisconnected from said rin 10. In a stringed musical instrument, aframe; a spacing ring around said frame provided with sound openings; aresonator having a closed bottom spaced from the frame and a sidewall onsaid resonator, removably secured to the spacing ring; pairs of spacedscrews. secured in approximately opposite parts of the inner face of theresonator side wall with their heads slightly spaced from the side wall;and a latch plate having a slot, disposed parallel to said frame andslidably received 'on the screws of said pairs respectively, the platebeing provided with an upwardly projecting end adapted to projectthrough one of the sound openings and provided with an enlarged upperend provided with a lower latching shoulder adapted to engage the topface of the lower spacing ring to hold the resonator in place; slidingmovement of the latch plate causing disengagement of said shoulder fromthe ring.

11. A tone ring member adapted to be disposed over a frame and formedwith inner and outer tone rings joined at intervals at the lower edge bydownwardly projecting spacing lugs disposable against the upper face ofthe frame.

12. In a stringed musical instrument a frame, an inner and an outer tonering, spaced from each other, disposed over said frame at a suitabledistance above said frame, a diaphragm distended over said tone rings,said inner ring with said diaphragm forming an upper downwardly openresonating chamher, said rings forming therebetween a downwardly opensound passage, and means for spacing said rings from each other and fromsaid frame,

13. In a banjo, a frame, parts encompassing said frame and spacedtherefrom forming three resonator chambers and including stepped annularextensions about said frame, said extensions having sound outlets.

ing chamber and sound passage therebetween and provided with, joined atwide intervals at the lower edge by, downwardly projecting V spacinglugs adapted to be secured by screws against the upper face of the framefor holding the body spaced from the frame to form a sound passagebetween the frame and tone ring member; the inner ring being the tallerand provided with a plurality of small sound openings therearound toprovide additional sound passages through said small openings,resonating chamber and under the outer tone ring.

15. In a stringed musical instrument, a frame; a diaphragm over theframe; a strain ring engaging the diaphragm; a resonator ring aroundsaid frame provided with a wall; a spacing ring secured around saidframe and engaging said wall and provided with sound outlets; a lowerspacing ring around the same frame against the lower face of theresonator ring and provided with sound openings; a resonator spaced fromthe frame having a closed bottom and a side wall removably secured tothe spacing ring; strain hooks en gaging the strain ring and passingthrough said resonator and spacing rings and having. threaded lowerends; and nuts on said ends engaging the lower spacing ring.

16. In a stringed musical instrument, .a

frame; a resonator ring around said frame provided with an annular wall;a spacing "ing secured around said frame and engaging said wall andprovided with sound outlets; one or more tone rings, disposed above saidspacing ring, a strain ring encompassing said tone rings; a lowerspacing ring around the said frame against the lower face of theresonator ring and provided with sound openings; a resonator spaced fromthe frame having a closed bottom and a side wall removably secured tothe spacing ring; the resonator side wall being provided with anupwardly opening recess; a neck having its inner end seated in saidrecess and its end face curved horizontally when said frame ishorizontal to conform to the outer face of saidannular wall and thestrain ring; a bolt anchored in the lower part of said end and having athreaded end passing through the frame; a nut on said end for adjustablyholding the neck; an arcuate plate interposed between the neck andstrain ring; ears on the neck near said plate; and set screws in saidears and engaging said plate and forming with said bolt a three pointsupport for the neck.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this10th day of July, A. D. 1929.

WILLIAM LANGE.

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